Ashes hero Mitchell Johnson is set to be rested from the first one-day international of the summer in Melbourne on Sunday, but Cricket Australia will try to avoid a backlash by spelling just one star at a time in the series against England.

Last summer, CA was pilloried for mass restings after the Test series and will take a stealthier approach this time.

It will try to balance the welfare of its Test stars with commercial considerations and the need to protect 50-over cricket just 12 months before Australia and New Zealand host the World Cup.

All-rounder Shane Watson will play at the MCG, where a crowd of about 45,000 is expected, but is likely to sit out the second ODI in Brisbane. Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin is in line to miss a game later in the series.

CA is believed to have planned it so no player will miss a game in his home city.

Channel Nine, which led the chorus of disapproval when Michael Clarke, David Warner, Matthew Wade and the retired Mike Hussey were all left out at once last summer, has given its blessing. But the decision to rest Johnson, a major drawcard, will still disappoint cricket fans in Melbourne where ODI crowds have been flat for the past decade.

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The crowd for Sunday's day-night game will test the public appetite, given the MCG is also hosting a Big Bash League game on Thursday night between the Melbourne Stars and the Adelaide Strikers which is expected to attract about 25,000 people.

Australian all-rounder James Faulkner, 12th man throughout the Ashes whitewash, said it would be understandable if Johnson was given a break ahead of next month's important Test series in South Africa. ''It's a brutal and tough time as a fast bowler with the amount of cricket that is on around the world,'' he said. ''I'm not too sure how Mitch is going or how his body is going or what the medical staff are thinking, but that's out of my control.

''Obviously, we would love to have him there, but if he's not I'm sure everyone in Australia will understand why because he has bowled a fair few overs in the past few months and done exceptionally well for his country.''

But he vowed to keep up the momentum against England. Johnson himself said after accepting the man-of-the-series award that he was both elated and ''absolutely exhausted'' now, and it was a huge relief to finish the Test series. England announced last month that several of its stars would miss the ODI series despite not playing another Test until June.

Jimmy Anderson and Kevin Pietersen were among those leaving the tour amid reports that the latter's relationship with coaching director Andy Flower had broken down.

Johnson's absence will not bring much respite for England's batsmen, who can expect to face James Pattinson, who has returned to full pace and fitness in the BBL following an extended break with a stress injury in his back.

The Melbourne Cricket Club is predicting a crowd of between 40,000 and 45,000 for Sunday's match.